Rack



11123, 1929. J.RE.HET' 1,110,514

' RACK Filed Sept; 12. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. REICHERT Apr-i123, 1929.

RACK

Filed Sept. 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

PATENT oFFicE.

JOHN REICHERT, OF RACINE, W'ISCONSIN. 7

- RACK.

Application filed September 12, 1928. Serial No. 305,523.

This inventionrelates to certain improvements in racks; and the nature and objects of the invention will be readily recognized and understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation and detailed description of the accompanying drawings illustratin what I at present consider to be the prefer-red embodiments. or

' mechanical expressions of my invention from among various other forms, arrangements, combinations and constructions of which the invention is capable within the spirit and the scope thereof. g I

The invention is more particularly directed to the garment displaying types of racks utilized for holding and displaying garments and such like articles, in stores, show rooms, and other places of display, although the in vcntion is not limited to such types of racks or to any particular articles to be held and displayed thereby; and a general object of the invention is to provide an arrangement and construction of a rack which is of mech anically simple yet durable construction of relatively small cost to manufacture, and a rack which embodies and combines the essential and highly desirable characteristics of occupying a minimum of space in use, and of holdinga maximum number of articles While 'efficiently displaying such articles,

An important characteristic of the design and construction of rack of the invention resides in its adaptability to manufacture from standard or stock materials with the necessity for a minimum of special parts and fittings, and the resulting substantial reduction in cost of materials, and in the cost to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to pro-- vide a rack andsupporting base structure therefor, in which the rack frame is of simple, rigid construction, and in which the design and construction of the supports or bases for the rack are such as to impart rigidity to the frame, and to permit of the application to the rack of considerable lateral, longitudinal, and

other forces without upsetting or causing the rack to be displaced from its normal upright position, yet without the'necessity of great weight for the frame and supporting base structure.

Another object of the vide a rack construction capable of being easily and quickly assembled and disassembled without requiring skilled labor or special tools, which when disassembled can be J" 1nvent1on is, to pro-- fully and particularly referred to herein after. p

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several figures thereof:

Fig. l, is a view in side elevation of a garmcnt display rack of the invention;

Fig. 2, is a view of the rack of Figslin end elevation. I

' Fig. 3, is a sectional View taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1 showing the frame vertical standards or side uprights in transverse section, and the supporting base structure in top plan. Fig. 4, is an enlarged detail view in side elevation of the upper end of a frame upright showing the cross braces and tie rods with the clamps therefor securing the same to the frame upright.

Fig. 5, is a detail view in elevation of the l outer ticrod clamp.

Fig. 6, 1s a detail View in elevation of the inner tie rod clamp and brace rod receiving support.

"Fig. 7, is a vertical section through the upper end of the frame showing the construction and mounting of the tie rods and cross brace bars between the frame uprights. 5

Fig. 8, is a transverse horizontal section taken on the line 88, of Fig. 7

Fig. 9, is a vertical longitudinal section the arched channel base or foot member with the upright receiving bar in positionhcld g general objects and re-- taken on the line 9-9, of Fig. 3, and showing therein by the channel cross bars of the base I structure.

Fig. 10, 1s

a perspective view of the upright receiving member of the base structure.

Fig.- 11, is a vertical section taken on the i line 1 1-11, of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12, is a view in side elevation. of a "modified form of rack of the invention. 7

V Fig. 11).

Fig. 13, is a detail perspective view showing the modified construction of the support ing base structure of the rack of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14, is a perspective View of the upright receiving member of the base structure of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15, is a detail vertical section. through the upper end of a frame upright 01 the rack of Fig. 12.

Fig. 16, is a vertical section taken on the line 1(S-16, of Fig. 12.

Fig. 17, is a vertical section taken on the line 1717, of Fig. 13. f

One possible design and construction of rack of the garment displaying type for store, showroom, andv the like uses, and embodying the several features of the invention, is presented in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings by way oi example and not of limitation. Such example of rack includes the supporting base structure comprising the spaced, transversely disposed and parallel bases or SllPPOllilllQ, tleet forming bars or members 10, connected by and secured to the spaced longitudinal bracing cross bars 11; and the rack frame structure comprising the vertical. side members or uprights 20 secured at their lower ends to and supported on the base members 10, and the horizontally disposed cross bars or brace members 21 secured to and between the upper ends of uprights 20, to form supporting members from and on which articles to be displayed may be supported, as will be later explained.

The base members 10, referring now to Fi 9;, 3, and 9 in 'iarticular, are constructed of channel iron oit preferably standard. or readily obtainable stock materials and sizes,

although the invention isnot so limited, and y are each formed centrally arched to provide the intermediate elevation 10 and the spaced opposite end -and depending supporting feet 10". The channels of the base members 10 are disposed on and openingupwardly from the upper sides of the members, and longitudinally along theelevations 10, where they form seats for receiving and interlocking with certain hereinafter described structaire.

A frame upright supporting and base member interlocking andclamping structure or member 30, in the example hereof formed of a sin gle integral. casting although not limited to such "formation, is provided for mounting on and clan'lping to each base member 10. Each member 30 in the present instance, coinprises a bar or elongated block 31, referring to Figs. 9, 10, and 11, formed to fit and be received in the open channelon the upper side of base elevation 10 and interlock therewith against lateral movement therein, the bar 31 in cross section conforn'ling to the internal cross section of the base member channel (see This bar or block 31 is formed on its upper side with an intermediate boss 32 having an internally threaded axial bore, which in the example hereof extends'downwardly through bar 31 (see Fig. 9), although not so limited, for receiving and in which the lower end of a frame upright 20 is mounted and secured. Adjacent the opposite ends of the bar or block 31, transversely disposed parallel ribs 33 are formed across the upper side thereof and are extended laterally a distance outwardly beyond one side o'f the bar 31, with the outer ends of these spaced parallel ribs connected and braced by across bar 3 1 extending therebetween across the lower or under sides of the ribs 33, will be clear by reference to Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings.

The depth of the channel of each elevation 10' of the members 10,. is ater than the thickness 01 the bars 31 of members 30, so that the ribs 33 are slightly cut away on their under sides at 33 between bar 31 and the extended rib brace bar 3 1, on each member 30 to permit the ribs to fit over and across the upper edge of the memberlO channel. Similarly, the u-nextended ends of ribs 33, overhang the adjacent channel edge slightly and form the under shoulders 33 fitting down on the channel side wall edge. Each rib 33 is also transversely channeled orcut away above the bar 31 and above the bracing cross bar adj acent the rib ends, so that a series of spaced seats 35 are formed presenting upper bearing faces. Vertical bores 36 are formed downwardly through each rib 33 and the bar 31 therebelow to receive clamping bolts by whic-- the structure or member 30 is secured in position on a base member 10. The foregoing details of construction of the illustrated form of the members 30, are clearly shown in Figs. 10 and 11, of the drawings.

A member 30 is mounted on each base member 10, with the bar or block 31 thereof seated and received in. the channel 01 the elevation ill-hand the ribs disposed extending in-' wardly toward the opposite base member 10, and alined with the inwardly extending-ribs 33 of member 30 mounted on such opposite base member. The bracing cross bars 11, are

formed from channeliron,"preferably of standard or readily obtainable stock sizes and material, but of course not limited to such materials or sizes, and are each moimted with sembled position by bolts 37 9 and.

10) extended downwardly through the ends 0t bracing cross bars 11, bores 36 m'the ribs 33 and bars 31 of members 30, andthe base members 10. Y

The supporting feet forming base members 7 'lateral or twisting movements of bars 11.

absolutely rigid and firm under plate is formed base; structure so formed is all conditions encountered in use, yet with a minimum of space occupying a heavy,expensive, and cumbersome structure. I

The frame structureof the rack is carried and supported on the hereinbefore described base structure, includes the vertical standards or uprights 20, which are preferably although not necessarily formed of metal tubing, of standard or stock material and sizes, such for example as The supporting the readily obtainable and relatively inexpensive standard gas piping. The uprights are externally threaded at their lower ends and mounted and secured in the internally threaded bores ofthe bosses 32, respectively,

of the bars 31 (see Fig. 9 in-particular) and extend upwardly from opposite ends of the iase structure in substantially parallel relation to provide theopposite sides of the frame structure as willbe clear by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The upper ends of the frame uprights 20, are connected together and braced by vertically spaced cross bars 21 and tie rods 22, referring now to Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, the cross bars 21 extending between the inner sides of uprights 20, and the tie rods xtendingthrough the cross bars 21, respectively, and uprights 20 to secure the cross bars 21 and uprights 20 together. At each end of the cross bars 21 is a clamping plate 23, which at one side is formed with a socket 24 having the bar end receiving shoulders 25 at the inner end thereof, (see Figs. 6 and 8m particular) while at its opposite side the clamping curved to fit over and against the adjacent frame upright 20, each clamping plate having a central opening therethrough axially of the socket 24.. Each cross bar 21 is mounted between uprights 20 with the clamping plates 28 between the ends thereof and uprights-20. tie rod 22 is eX- ten'ded through, each cross bar 21 and its end clamping plates 23, and transversely through the uprights 20, with the curved clamping plates 26 disposed over the tie rod ends against the uprights20. The tie rods 22 are in the present example headed atone end and secured'in position binding and securing theiiprights 20 clamped against cross,

and in the example hereof,

same as members ends in the bosses 32 cut instance by forming,

. rights. 20'.

bars 21,-between clamping plates 23 and 26, i

dotted lines in Fig. 1, to permit of displaying two rows of short garments on the rack. The uprights are preferably bored transversely at such lower or intermediate posi'-' tion to permit of the lowercross bar and tie rod being mounted at such location when desired. Hook members, such as 28 having clamps 29 for attaching the same, are provided for mounting on the frame uprights, and a price or legend cardholder 28can be clamped onto the upper cross bar 21, as shown in Fig. 1. 1

The rack hereinbefore described, is designed for resting upon the floor and is of sufficient height to display, for example dresses or other full length garinents,but in Figs. 12 to 17, inclusive, a modified form of rack is disclosed of smaller size for counter or table use in displaying, for example, short length or small garments. In this form of' locking and clamping members 30 of the base structure havethe ribs 33' thereof unconnected at their outer ends by. any bracing cross bar, but otherwise remain substantially the 30 hereinbefore described.

In this counter" form of rack, the frame structure embodies the opposite side vertical members or uprights-20, mounted in a manner hereinbefore described with respect to uprights 20, namely, threaded at their lower of the bars 31 in base members 10.. The upper ends of uprights 20 are braced and connectedin the rack of the form of Fig. 12, by asuitable wire or rod cross bar extended into the open upper ends of these uprights. This is accomplished in the presopposite ends of wire or cross asby bending, the

bar 40 into 40 extended between and fitted or the vertically disposed hooks 41,;having the depending ends 4-2 (see Figs. 15 and 16) re movably fitting into the upper'ends of up Fittings therein for receiving the upperends of uprights 20, are provided for mounting on and 43 having vertical sockets formed over the ends of the frame uprights, and each fitting 43 has an axial bore through the upper end thereof opening into the upright receiving socket to receive an end 42 of rod 40, with this red in mounted position. b Each upright end fitting 43 is formed with a laterally extending hook 44, and a vertically disposed socket member 45 for removably receiving a card or the like holder 46, as shown in Fig. 12. Preferably, each upright end fitting 48 is removably secured in position. on the upper end of a frame upright 20 by means of a set screw or the like 47, as clearly shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings.

The supporting base structure with the spaced. base members 10 clamped to and interlocked with the spaced cross bracing bars 11, through the interposed locking member or structure 30, is such that distortion of twisting of such base structure is eliminated,

and. a very rigid, durable base for the rack results. Further, the constructionand. arrangement reduces the effect of lateral or upsetting forces applied to a side of the rack, by evenly distributing and neutralizing such forces. The mounting and construction of the frame structure results in a rack of ex treme rigidity and strength in use, while retaining light weight with durability, and the requirement for minimum space, and all with a structure which can be relatively cheaply manufactured.

It is alsoevident that various changes, variations, modifications, and substitutions might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I do not wish to limit myself to the exact and specific disclosures hereof.

What I claim, is:

1. In a rack, a supporting base eomprisi ng spaced feet forming channel bars, spaced channel bar cross bracing members disposed transversely of and extending between and secured at their opposite ends to said. foot forming bars, and a member interposed between the ends of said. cross members and the feet members towhich attached, engaging and fitting in the channels of said cross members and feet members, respectively to rigidly lock said members against relative movement. 1

7 2.111 a rack, spaced opposite end and transversely disposed feet forming members each having a longitudinal groove in its upper side, spaced, substantially parallel cross bars extending between and connected at their opposite ends to said feet members respectively, said cross bars longitudinally grooved on their under sides at the ends thereof, and a locking member interposed between each foot member and the ends of said cross bars and engaged in the grooves of the cross bars and the feet members to rigidly 1001: said members against relative lateral movements.

3. In a rack, spaced transversely disposed foot members, spaced substantially parallel cross bars extending between and secured at to, said cross member having a longitudinal groove in its under side, and a lockingmember interposedbetween said foot member and cross member, said locking member fitting in the groove of said foot member and provided with a transverse upwardly extending projection fitting in the groove of saidcross member, said locking member securing the cross member and foot member against relative lateral movement.

5. In a rack, spaced, transversely disposed foot forming channel bars having the channels on the upper side-thereof, spaced, substantially parallel bracing channel bars having the channels on the under sidethereof, extending between and secured at their opposite ends on said foot forming bars, respectively, and a locking member interposed between each foot bar and the ends of the cross bars thereon, said locking member comprising a bar fitted in the channel of the foot bar, and upwardly and laterally extended ribs fitting into the channels of said cross bars, respectively, to rigidly retain the foot bars and the cross bars against lateral movement.

6. In a rack, spaced, transversely disposed foot forming channel bars having the channels on the upper sides thereof, spaced'substantially parallel bracing channel bars having the channels on the lower sides thereof, said bracing bars extending between said foot members with their opposite ends across the upper sides of said foot forming bars, a

locking member interposed between each foot i forming member and the ends of the bracing bars, embodying a bar fitting into the channo]. of the foot bar, and upwardly and latorally extended projections thereon fitting into the lower side channels, respectively, of the bracing bars thereabove, and "clamping bolts extending downwardly through the bracing bars, locking member, and foot forming member, to secure the same in position with the locking member maintaining the bracing bars and foot members against relative movement. 7

7. In a rack, spaced foot forming. members disposed transversely of the rack, spaced cross bars extending between and secured at thelr cpposlte ends to said foot forming mem bers, a locking member interposed between and engaging each foot member and the ends of the cross bars secured thereon to prevent relative movement of the foot forming members and cross bars, and rack frame uprights mounted on and carried by said locking members, respectively.

8. In a rack, spaced transversely disposed foot forming channel bars having the channels on the upper sides thereof, spaced, substantially parallel bracing channel bars having the channels on the under sides thereof, said bracing bars extending between and secured at their opposite ends on the upper sides of said foot forming bars, respectively, a locking member interposed between each foot bar and the ends of the bracing bars from the foot member, fixed with respect thereon, said members each embodying a bar fitting in the channel of the foot bar, and upwardly and laterally extended spaced projections fitting into the under side channels of said bracing bars, respectively, and rack frame uprights secured on and carried by the bars of said locking members between the ends of said bracing bars.

9. In a supporting base structure, a foot member having a longitudinal groove on one side thereof, a bracing member secured to said foot member and extending across the grooved side of the foot member, and a member disposed transversely of and extending from the bracing member fixed with respect thereto, and seated and engaged in the foot member groove to retain and brace the foot member and bracing member'against relative lateral movements.

10. In a supporting base structure, a foot member, a bracing member having a longitudinal groove .on one side thereof, said bracing member secured to said foot member with the bracing member groove disposed transversely of the foot member, and a member disposed transversely of and extending thereto and seated and engaged in the bracing member groove to retain and brace the foot member and bracing member against relative lateral movements.

Signed at Racine, county of Racine, State of WVisconsin, this 10th day of September,

J OI-IN REIOHERT. 

